Magazine unit for dispensable disks



Jan. 28, 1964 H. E. TAYLOR 3,119,521

MAGAZINE UNIT FOR DISPENSABLE DISKS Filed June 14. 1960 IN VEN TOR.

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United States Patent 3,119,521 MAGAZINE UNIT FQR DISPENSABLE DHSKS Harry E. Taylor, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Becton,

Dickinson and Company, Rutherford, NJ., :1 corporation of New Jersey Filed June 14, 1960, Ser. No. 36,052 4 Claims. (Cl. 221287) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved magazine unit containing sensitivity disks used in connection with the determination of microbial sensitivity to antibiotics, sulfanamides and other antimicrobial agents, and which unit is to be associated with a dispensing device such that a suitable number of the disks are properly disposed within a receptacle, such as a Petri dish.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of the earlier application for United States patent on Disc Dis penser issued on August 2, 1960, under Patent No. 2,947,444.

It is a primary object to provide magazine units which will maintain the disks in properly housed and aseptic condition, aside from the fact that these units may readily be associated with or removed from a dispensing mechanism without difiiculty; the units being properly disposed with reference to the elements of that mechanism without conscious effort on the part of the person who combines them with the dispenser.

Still another object is that of furnishing magazine units of this type which may be readily and economically manufactured and within which the sensitivity disks may be retained for long periods of time without adverse results.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one form of magazine unit;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing magazine units associated with a dispensing mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing an alternative form of disk-containing unit.

Referring primarily to FIG. 5, the reference numeral indicates a tubular body conveniently having a cylindrical outer configuration. This body may be formed of a suitable plastic or any other desired material. Disposed within its bore is a stack of disks 11 embodying the desired sensitivity characteristics. A hook-shaped extension 12 may be integral with body 10 and have its shank underlying the latter to provide a support for the disks when the unit 10 is disposed in a vertical position. This shank portion should be spaced from the lower edge of the body a distance slightly in excess of the thickness of one of the disks. Caps including head portions 13 and hollow plugs are provided for closing and sealing the opposite ends of the unit. The bores of plug portions 14 have a diameter such that they receive and frictionally grip the outer faces of the adjacent end zones of body 10. Those faces may be outwardly tapered to facilitate the association of the caps with the body. A key or extension 15 projects outwardly from the face of body 10 and may be integral therewith. As shown, the key is adjacent the lower end of the body, extends parallel to its axis and has at least its lower edge inclined in the direction of that end. A weight 16 may overlie the stack of disks 11 within the bore of the body and serve to urge them downwardly.

An alternative form of magazine unit has been shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This again includes a tubular body 17 of preferably cylindrical configuration and provided with a bore within which a stack of disks 18 are disposed. A

Patented Jan. 28, 1964 ice Washer 19 may be supported by the stack at the latters upper end and has bearing against it a spring 20. The upper portion of that spring again conveniently bears against a washer 21; sealing caps 22, corresponding gen erally to those heretofore described at 13 and 14, closing the opposite ends of body 17.

An extension in the form of a support 23 projects across the lower end of body 17 and in common with the extension or support 12 is spaced from the lower edge of that body a distance slightly in excess of the thickness of one of the disks 18. Thus these disks are urged down wardly by the spring 20, but are supported in operative position by means of this extension. A pair of positioning keys 24 project from the outer face of body 17 at a point adjacent its lower end. These keys are preferably tapered in a downward direction. In common with the form of unit shown in FIG. 5, the outer face zones of body 17 at points adjacent its ends are preferably tapered for ready application and removal of the caps 22.

Units of the type shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 are used in connection with a dispensing mechanism. The latter may conveniently take the form of apparatus as disclosed in the afore-identified Taylor-Buck application. Such an ap paratus has been generally shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the present application. As will be apparent, other forms of dispenser may be combined with the magazine units for the purpose of discharging and positioning one or more disks of the sensitivity type.

Thus, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the numeral 25 indicates a plate, the edge of which is defined by a downwardly extending flange 26, and which plate presents upon its face a number of dished or socket portions 27 having diameters such that they may receive the lower end of body 19 or 17. A second plate 28 is positioned above plate 25. Plate 28 is furnished with an outwardly extending handle 29, which may be integral therewith. One end of a spring 31) is attached to plate 25; its opposite end conveniently being connected to handle 29. Therefore, with plates 25 and 28 being relatively rotatable, the spring will tend to constrict to shift plate 28 in a direction counterclockwise with respect to plate 25. The movements of the plates relative to each other are limited by forming an extension 31 as part of handle 29 and having that extension ride within an arcuate slot 32 in plate 25. Thus the handle may be shifted from the position shown in FIG. 3 in full lines to that shown in dot-and-dash lines, with corresponding movement of the attached plate 28.

A supporting structure assuring a proper positioning of magazine units is disposed above plate 28. That structure conveniently includes a cover 33 and a pan 34. The central portion of the latter is dished downwardly to provide a hub 35. The diameter of that hub is slightly less than that of the central opening 36 of plate 28. Therefore, it extends into that opening, and as shown, preferably has an outwardly projecting part overlying plate 28 to thus furnish a bearing surface for the latter and in conjunction with plate 25. To properly retain and support the parts, the shank of a bolt 37 may extend centrally through cover 33, hub portion 35 and plate 25, and is secured against movement with respect to the latter.

Cover 33 is formed with an annular series of openings 38. If a unit of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is to be extended into an opening, then the latter is shaped to furnish notches 39 at diametrically opposite points. If a unit of the type shown in FIG. 5 is to be thus positioned, then only a single notch need be furnished. The base portion 34 is formed with corresponding openings aligned with openings 38. intervening the sockets 27 formed in plate 25, that plate is formed with openings 40 which have a diameter such that a sensitivity disk may freely pass the-rethrough. The openings in cover 33 and base 34 are in line with the depressed or socket portions 27.

3 Therefore, they are out of line with the openings 4% of plate 25.

Plate 28 preferably is of a diameter such that its edge extends beyond the centers of openings 40. That edge is formed with a series of notches 41 corresponding in number to the number of openings 49. The notches are elongated in a counterclockwise direction, and tongue portions 42 extend in line with their edges. Those tongue portions are of a Width such that they may pass through the spaces defined by supports 23 of the units, or else the space existing inwardly between support 12 and the adjacent edge of tubular body it) or 17. The end of each tongue 42 is spaced from the edge of an adjacent notch a distance slightly in excess of the diameter of a sensitivity disk. With plate 28 in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 3, the gap between the curved notch edge 41 and the end of the adjacent tongue 42 is conveniently in line with one of the openings 40. When handle 29 is shifted in a clockwise direction to an extreme point, the end edge of that tongue will shift to a point in line with the next succeeding opening 40.

Ordinarily, it will be desired to dispense disks at properly spaced'points within a receptacle such as a Petri dish. Such a dish has been shown in 42 in FIG. 4. Within it a layer of culture medium may be disposed. With an apparatus of the type described, eight disks are conveniently dispensed within the dish in a single operation. For this reason, eight openings 38 will be provided in cover 33 and also in base 34. A corresponding number of openings 40 will be provided in plate 25, and plate 25 will present in its periphery an equal number of tongues and complernentary notches. The diameter defined by the inner face of flange 26 will preferably be adequate so that the latter will encircle the side wall of dish 42'. p

In use, a suitable number of magazine units will be provided, and their lower sealing caps will be removed to expose the supports or retainers 12 or 23. These units will be projected one through each of openings 38 and the openings in base 34, so that their lower ends lie within the sockets 27, if the latter be employed. In any event, the spaces between the upper faces of the supports 12 or 23 and the adjacent lower edges of tubular bodies or 17 will be in line with the plane within which tongues 42 lie. The lengthwise dimension of supports 12 or 23 will extend transversely of the path followed by tongues 42. Now, with the units in position and plate conveniently disposed upon dish 42', it will be assumed that spring has shifted handle 29 to the station illustrated in full lines in FIG. 3. As the operator pushes handle 29 in a clockwise direction, a tongue 42 will bear against the lowermost disk supported by each unit and in contact with the extension 12 or 23. This movement of the parts will serve to displace the lowermost disk from each unit and traverse it over the surface of plate 25. Thus shifted, it will be retained by the curved edge of a notch 41 and the projecting edge of the adjacent tongue 42. Therefore, the disks will be shifted to points where they align with Openings of plate 25. As they are brought to these posit-ions, they will drop through those openings directly onto the adjacent supporting surface. In the illustrated embodiment, this will be layer 43 disposed within dish 42'. A release of handle 29 will cause it and plate 28 to return to their initial positions. As tongues 42 retract from the spaces adjacent the lower ends of the magazine units, the lowermost disk of the stack in each unit will shift to a point where it is retained by the support 12 or 23. Therefore, a subsequent shifting of plate 28 by means of the handle will result in the dispensing of a second series of disks.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. For use in a sensitivity disk dispensing apparatus, a cartridge formed from plastic material comprising an elongated cylindrical tubular body having an open upper and lower end and the bore of which directly contains and guides sensitivity disks to be discharged through the open lower end, an integral disk support having opposed ends and spaced from the lower end by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of at least one disk, and connecting means for connecting at least one of the opposed ends of the support to said body at the lower end, said support extending substantially in line with the center of the bore of said body providing opposed disk dispensing openings, said support being of less width than the bore of the body, said support being cooperable with said dispensing apparatus in providing for dispensing of the contained disks when said cartridge is disposed in a predetermined position with respect thereto, said support being so arranged with respect to the lower end to provide for the withdrawal of one disk at a time from either of the disk dispensing openings, integral rib means extending from said body for engaging with surfaces of said dispensing apparatus to assure the establishment of such predetermined position, spring biasing means in said body for urging the contained disks towards the lower end, and said support and rib means being cooper-able when said cartridge is disposed in said predetermined position to align the space between the support and the lower end with parts of the dispensing apparatus that are projectable to displace the lowermost disk supported by the support.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rib means include at least two ribs extending laterally and integrally from the body. 3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the connecting means connects the support to the lower end of the body at both of the opposed support ends.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein removable cap means are provided for closing both open ends of the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,485,716 Rogers Mar. 4, 1924 2,093,138 Riesebeck Sept. 14, 1937 2,374,717 Alfandre May 1, 1945 2,443,862 Justus June 22, 1948 2,626,197 Kollock -1 Jan. 20, 1953 2,698,682 Bodan Jan. 4, 1955 2,851,192 Mayo et al Sept. 9, 1958 2,947,444 Taylor et a1 Aug. 2, 1960 

1. FOR USE IN A SENSITIVITY DISK DISPENSING APPARATUS, A CARTRIDGE FORMED FROM PLASTIC MATERIAL COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL TUBULAR BODY HAVING AN OPEN UPPER AND LOWER END AND THE BORE OF WHICH DIRECTLY CONTAINS AND GUIDES SENSITIVITY DISKS TO BE DISCHARGED THROUGH THE OPEN LOWER END, AN INTEGRAL DISK SUPPORT HAVING OPPOSED ENDS AND SPACED FROM THE LOWER END BY A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF AT LEAST ONE DISK, AND CONNECTING MEANS FOR CONNECTING AT LEAST ONE OF THE OPPOSED ENDS OF THE SUPPORT TO SAID BODY AT THE LOWER END, SAID SUPPORT EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY IN LINE WITH THE CENTER OF THE BORE OF SAID BODY PROVIDING OPPOSED DISK DISPENSING OPENINGS, SAID SUPPORT BEING OF LESS WIDTH THAN THE BORE OF THE BODY, SAID SUPPORT BEING COOPERABLE WITH SAID DISPENSING APPARATUS IN PROVIDING FOR DISPENSING OF THE CONTAINED DISKS WHEN SAID CARTRIDGE IS DISPOSED IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION WITH RESPECT THERETO, SAID SUPPORT BEING SO ARRANGED WITH RESPECT TO THE LOWER END TO PROVIDE FOR THE WITHDRAWL OF ONE DISK AT A TIME FROM EITHER OF THE DISK DISPENSING OPENINGS, INT EGRAL RIB MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID BODY FOR ENGAGING WITH SURFACES OF SAID DISPENSING APPARATUS TO ASURE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH PREDETERMINED POSITION, SPRING BIASING MEANS IN SAID BODY FOR URGING THE CONTAINED DISKS TOWARDS THE LOWER END, AND SAID SUPPORT AND RIB MEANS BEING COOPERABLE WHEN SAID CARTIDGE IS DISPOSED IN SAID PREDETERMINED POSITION TO ALIGN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SUPPORT AND THE LOWER END WITH PARTS OF THE DISPENSING APPARATUS THAT ARE PROJECTABLE TO DISPLACE THE LOWERMOST DISK SUPPORTED BY THE SUPPORT. 